GDT: Devils @ Avalanche - 10 P.M. - TNT/SN1/SNE/SNO/SNP

[Incharge1976]

A step back? We've gone from top 5 GA to bottom 5. That's not a step back, that's a complete disintegration.

Did I get out the tape to measure the distance of the step back? No. So my point stands.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Missing your 2 best skaters and playing an uptempo system is on Lindy and the coaching staff. Also, the dmen need to get their heads out of their asses and stop thinking they're prime Orr/Karlsson

 

[Hisch13r]

View attachment 764972
The bottom 6 got their lunch handed to them by a good team. Bednar made sure their top guys got out there against them.

And we need to break up Hughes and Smith.

We need to stop playing Smith. Again I don’t give a f*** how bad anyone thinks Foote is. You’re better off trotting him out and giving it a look over Smith who shits the bed every single game.

 

[Dylan9z9]

Do they need sandpaper?

 

[Devils731]

Well you missed the point because my follow up was that the Devils need to change their system to play more defensive like Sullivan did when those guys were out. The Penguins didn't run and gun with teams and probably would've gotten their heads caved in if they tried. Pens play a system like we did tonight and they'd get caved in without those guys.

Jack Han actually pointed out on Twitter how the Penguins recently adjusted their system to account for not having the players to execute their original system idea.

 

[Devs3cups]

I’ll temper expectations with the stars out but I’m not tempering expectations for this season. On paper this is a Cup contending roster and that’s the standard they should he held to

I agree with you that on paper it is a lineup that's good enough for a run, but you can't argue with the product on the ice right now. The team is not clicking right now.

It's very early though, and what we have now is most likely not what we'll be getting in March/April. It's a process.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I’ll temper expectations with the stars out but I’m not tempering expectations for this season. On paper this is a Cup contending roster and that’s the standard they should he held to

Agreed

 

[Incharge1976]

I’ll temper expectations with the stars out but I’m not tempering expectations for this season. On paper this is a Cup contending roster and that’s the standard they should he held to

Close to a Cup contending roster. I think we need an upgrade in goal. Yeah yeah, teams win with average goaltending, but their systems aren't as open and they are more physical.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

To me a bad game in November on the road missing your top two centers tells me nothing about what this team will be playing like come March

I'm fairly certain this game will be forgotten by then

every game has its takeaways!

this one i think showed a lack of confidence 5v5; lots of quick, unprovoked giveaways and too many odd-man rushes

but!.. i think this game also showed we can skate with teams even without the big-2; they just gotta focus and tighten up the defense!

 

[Hisch13r]

Close to a Cup contending roster. I think we need an upgrade in goal. Yeah yeah, teams win with average goaltending, but their systems aren't as open and they are more physical.

If this team is playing up to their potential there’s no reason they couldn’t win with this goaltending as long as Vitek stops being a playoff headcase

 

[DrBSmooth]

We haven’t been bad 5v5 all year.

Still early enough, but we played really well even strength last year.

Powerplay is better this year, but got to expect that will trend downward....it can't stay this hot.

and the PK feels worse.

 

[Devs3cups]

We need to stop playing Smith.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Well you missed the point because my follow up was that the Devils need to change their system to play more defensive like Sullivan did when those guys were out. The Penguins didn't run and gun with teams and probably would've gotten their heads caved in if they tried. Pens play a system like we did tonight and they'd get caved in without those guys.

I disagree with this, because it's been ugly even with them in the lineup. They have not played like a cup contending roster should all year, and I suspect that these injuries are going to expose what a lot of have suspected which is that it's a system/coaching issue.

The system sucks, the fact that a couple of star players have been able to mask it with individual talent is proof that they were winning in spite of it and not because of it.

 

[Devs3cups]

If this team is playing up to their potential there’s no reason they couldn’t win with this goaltending as long as Vitek stops being a playoff headcase

Problem is they're not. It's still so early, but damn it's frustrating.

 

[Incharge1976]

If this team is playing up to their potential there’s no reason they couldn’t win with this goaltending as long as Vitek stops being a playoff headcase

I wouldn't be surprised but at the same time I want an upgrade.

 

[jkrdevil]

3 - 3 in the third. Goalie playing decent.

2 major brainfarts and it's down two goals. One by Tierney and one by Willmanbahl.

Defense was shit but tie game until then

They weren’t good in the second period either. It was tied because they were gifted a 7 minute PP that included 1:30 on 5 on 3 time. Even then they only walked away with the game tied.

 

[Devs3cups]

If Nemec watches the team, he must be sh*tting absolute bricks seeing Smith in the lineup.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Palat has 4 assists in like 12 games and no goals still. Him and Mercer aren't cutting it.

This game would be much different with Hughes and Hischier but I wanna see a better game from the team even with out them. Everytime Crosby or Malkin are hurt the Penguins always hold the fort down and play well. This team is very pedestrian without Hughes and Hischier.

 

[Hisch13r]

Palat has 4 assists in like 12 games and no goals still. Him and Mercer aren't cutting it.

This game would be much different with Hughes and Hischier but I wanna see a better game from the team even with out them. Everytime Crosby or Malkin are hurt the Penguins always hold the fort down and play well. This team is very pedestrian without Hughes and Hischier.

I’m tired of being gaslit by some about Palat. The guy is absolutely f***ing awful

 

[guitarguyvic]

Did I get out the tape to measure the distance of the step back? No. So my point stands.

Well it's a terrible point. No one expected (or should have expected) them to go from a top defense to a bottom of the barrel one because of changes to the #4 and #5 d-men.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Team is facing some serious adversity early in the season. I am hopeful this team will come out of this stretch a more galvanized group and hit their stride.

 

[jkrdevil]

Their top forwards all played 24-25 minutes tonight. With the schedule letting up a bit here, it may be what we need to do until Nico and Jack are back.

 

[DerekDevils30]

I’m tired of being gaslit by some about Palat. The guy is absolutely f***ing awful

I thought Palat was going to come out of the gate strong. I was wrong. It’s tough watching him turning over the puck making cute plays at the blueline when you know he’s capable of being a bull out there.

 

[Hisch13r]

I thought Palat was going to come out of the gate strong. I was wrong. It’s tough watching him turning over the puck making cute plays at the blueline when you know he’s capable of being a bull out there.

Even as the “#1 hater” I didn’t think he’d suck this much in years 1 and 2

 

[R8Devs]

Probably the worst 5v5 effort this year, it has been pretty decent lately but even in the games they have been good possesion wise 5v5 they haven't been able to capitalize. If they want to run the bottom six like a traditional bottom six and be more conservative there with Nico/Jack out reunite Palat and Haula and move Holtz to one of the scoring lines and see if that can work. Hughes and Hischier out are one thing but that's not a reason to be struggling this much to score even strength (was a problem when they were in the lineup too).

Bratt-Mercer-Toffoli
Meier-Mcleod-Holtz
Palat-Haula-Lazar
Willman-Tierney-Bastian

Luke looks much better away from Smith than he does with so that needs to change whether it be with Marino or Hamilton.